SF
Sofia Fomina
Piano Teacher
An outstanding piano teacher with broad experience. A graduate of the Minsk Music Conservatory, she taught piano in Belarus and Tashkent.
Department · Ages 4 to adult
Music & Voice
Private lessons in piano, strings, guitar, winds, drums and voice with conservatory-trained teachers, and concerts at Steinway Hall and Symphony Space.
- Ages
- 4 to adult
- Format
- Private lessonsPlus duets, ensembles and theory groups
- Lesson length
- 30, 45 or 60 minutes
- Performances
- Winter & summer recitalsHonors: Steinway Hall, Symphony Space
- From
- $38 per lesson30-minute private lesson
A complete musical education
Individual lessons build real musicianship: music theory, reading notes, technique, memory, and complete study of the instrument.
Students learn a program of world-famous compositions by composers from many centuries. Lessons start at age 4 and continue through adulthood, in private sessions of 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Piano duets and chamber ensembles give students the experience of making music together.
Instruments we teach
- Piano
- Violin
- Cello
- Classical guitar
- Saxophone
- Clarinet
- Trumpet
- Drums
- Voice
Group classes
- Music theory, ear training & music appreciation — Tuesdays at Avenue X
- Chamber String Ensemble — Saturdays at Brighton Beach
- Piano duets and chamber duets — arranged with your teacher
On stage and in competition
Performing is part of every student’s year, from the first recital to the concert hall.
School recitals
Twice a year, in winter and summer, every student performs at our school concerts.
Steinway Hall & Symphony Space
Honors students perform at Steinway Hall (two concerts a year) and at the Symphony Space theater. Our 35th-anniversary concert took place at Steinway Hall on May 21, 2016.
Competitions
Students enter piano, violin and vocal competitions in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Boston, and the school has produced many 1st- and 2nd-place winners.
Audition preparation
Gifted & Talented and LaGuardia prep
We prepare instrumental students for the auditions of schools for the gifted and talented, including Mark Twain and Bay Academy junior high schools and LaGuardia High School.
Instruments accepted for these auditions include piano, violin, cello, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, classical guitar and voice. Every year more than 50 Shostakovich School students are accepted to schools for the gifted and talented.
Preparing for an audition?
Tell us the school and audition date, and we will match your child with a teacher and a lesson plan.
Ask about audition prepNew program
Vocal & Voice Lessons
Our Vocal & Voice classes help students build confidence, strengthen their voices, and improve tone, control and expression in a supportive environment.
Classes are open to all levels and designed to improve range, clarity and vocal control, for singers and speakers alike. Voice students perform in the same recitals as our instrumentalists, and can prepare for vocal auditions and competitions.
- Simple, effective exercises for tone and vocal control
- Range and clarity for singing and speaking
- Repertoire and stage confidence
Group classes this season
Private lessons are scheduled individually with your teacher. These are the weekly music groups.
- Tue5:30–6:30 pmMusic Theory, Ear Training & Appreciationolder groupAvenue X
- Tue6:30–8:00 pmMusic Theory, Ear Training & Appreciationolder groupAvenue X
- Sat11:00 am–12:00 pmChamber String EnsembleBrighton Beach
Private lessons are arranged by appointment. Call (917) 991-0658 or send us a message to find a time that suits you.
Music faculty
Graduates of the conservatories of Moscow, Kyiv, Minsk, Lviv, Tbilisi, Donetsk and Rostov-on-Don, and of Brooklyn College.
Dora Gluzman
Piano Teacher
Graduate of the Lviv (Lvov) Conservatory.
Irina Prirodnaya
Piano Teacher
Graduate of the Donetsk Conservatory.
Irina Shchipacheva
Piano Teacher
Graduate of the Kyiv (Kiev) Conservatory.
Irina Shein
Piano Teacher
Graduate of the Rostov-on-Don Conservatory.
Gennadiy Sinelnikov
Piano Teacher
Graduate of the Gnessin State Musical College, Moscow.
Irina Volynsky
Piano Teacher
Graduate of the Kyiv (Kiev) Conservatory.
Roman Davidovich
Violin Teacher
Graduate of the Moscow Conservatory; PhD in Music.
AT
Alexander Tenenbaum
Violin Teacher
Georgi Goryadze
Cello Teacher
Graduate of the Tbilisi Conservatory.
AG
Alexander Glukhoy
Guitar Teacher
Graduated from a Moscow music academy as a professional guitarist and teacher. He has taught in the US and Ukraine and prepares students for admission to prestigious schools.
Svetlana Dubova
Guitar Teacher
Graduate of the Kyiv State Institute of Culture.
Palina Tsinkevich
Guitar, Drums & Voice Teacher
Graduate of Brooklyn College.
Boris Kurganov
Saxophone Teacher
OL
Olga Lomteva
Drums & Voice Teacher
Has performed with companies around the world in operatic roles by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Mussorgsky.
Tatiana Paletskaya
Drums & Voice Teacher
Graduate of the Moscow Conservatory; soloist of the American Opera.
KB
Kristina Brovikov
Vocal Teacher
Photos & Videos
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35th Anniversary Concert at Steinway Hall
Vocal & Voice Lessons
Music Department
Tuition
Per-lesson prices from our current pricelist. Full-year and session plans are discounted, and sibling discounts apply.
Music — Private Lessons
Price per lesson, once or twice a week.
| Lesson | Per lesson |
|---|---|
| 30 minutes | $38 |
| 45 minutes | $55 |
| 60 minutes | $65 |
Group Lessons
Dance, art, music theory and other group classes, per class.
| Class | 1× a week | 2× a week |
|---|---|---|
| 60 minutes | $35 | $32 |
| 90 minutes | $50 | $45 |
| Ballet, 3× a week | $100 / week | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can my child start music lessons?
Private music lessons start at age 4, and adults are welcome at any level. Children aged 2–5 can also begin with our Musical Rhythmic classes.
Are lessons private or in a group?
All instrument and voice lessons are private — 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Students can also play piano duets and in chamber ensembles, and join our group classes in music theory, ear training and music appreciation.
Will my child perform?
Yes. Every student performs at our school recitals twice a year, in winter and summer. Honors students also perform at Steinway Hall (two concerts a year) and at Symphony Space.
Do you prepare students for specialized school auditions?
Yes. We prepare instrumental and vocal students for the gifted-and-talented auditions at Mark Twain and Bay Academy junior high schools and LaGuardia High School.
How much do music lessons cost?
Private music lessons are $38 for 30 minutes, $55 for 45 minutes and $65 for 60 minutes. The annual registration fee is $75. See the full pricelist for payment plans and discounts.
How do we get started?
Every new student begins with a trial lesson or audition so we can match them with the right teacher and level. Book online or call (917) 991-0658.
Start with a trial lesson
We will listen, get to know your child, and suggest the right instrument, teacher and lesson length.
A $75 registration fee applies to all new enrollments